3 Simple Ways to Manage Mental Health Struggles
- Teen H&M Society
- Mar 30, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30, 2024
As a teenager in 2024, mental health is definitely something that I sometimes struggle with. Growing up in middle school, although I was taught about the impact of stress on mental health vaguely, I was not prepared for the impact of COVID-19. Isolated during the quarantine, I struggled with depression and anxiety. Since then, I've come to learn various ways of improving my mental health and coping mechanisms that work for me. As I know that many teenagers struggle with mental health issues around the world, here are some of the simple things that helped and currently help me combat mental health struggles:
Journaling
I feel that journaling each day provides me with an outlet that allows me to express my feelings and reflect on my anxieties. By writing everything down, I am able to examine how I truly feel and determine the root cause of my stress and emotions. Oftentimes, I feel relieved writing down how I feel, especially if I do not feel comfortable sharing my feelings with others.
2. Gratitude
As I began to practice daily gratitude exercises, I was able to change my mindset from pessimistic to optimistic. Now whenever I feel sad, lonely, or anxious, gratitude helps me to remember the blessings that I have in my life.
3. Sunshine
Spending time outside really helps with my mindset. Being in the sun, especially when physically active, allows me to step out of my room and stop overthinking. Try going for a walk outside or even just sitting outside with a book if you are feeling down.
Do you do any of these when you are feeling down? Or do you have any strategies to improve your mental health when it is low? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Thank you for creating this space for us to discuss and ask questions. For me, gratitude is something I think would be really helpful for my mental health, but it’s also something I need to improve on a lot. I usually always compare my life to others and as much as I try to avoid it, it’s become a habit. I know that I should be thankful for what I have, but at times it can be difficult when you’re surrounded around people who have things you don’t have. Are there any specific gratitude exercises that you would recommend?